APRIL 8 READINGS…Ruth 4:13-22 &1 Chronicles 2:9-55 & 1 Chronicles 4:1-23 & 1 Samuel 1:1-8
We conclude the short book of Ruth, and some might think that though this is a wonderful story, why is it in the Scripture? I remind you as we journey through the Scripture that the Bible is about Jesus, and God's plan to bring salvation to fallen mankind. Ruth is important to the story of Jesus because through Boaz the Lord blessed her with a son named Obed. Obed had a son named Jesse. Jesse had several sons, the youngest of who was named David. All this fulfilling the prophetic words that Jacob said over his son Judah... the one from whom an eternal King would come. Ruth's grandson David would also receive a covenant promise from God...the eternal King would not only come from the tribe of Judah, but He would come from the line of David. God's specific line for the coming Messiah has come into being through a good man who served as a kinsman redeemer and a Moabite woman. I love the way God does what He does...the world would never have done it this way. This ought to remind us even today..."His ways are not our ways". We are given continued information concerning the genealogies of the tribe of Judah...showing us how God's plan is being brought to fulfillment.
Today we also begin the book of 1 Samuel. It starts from a very sad place...a place of great need for a woman who put her trust in the Lord. This woman is named Hannah, who was married to Elkanah. Elkanah also had another wife Peninnah who had produced children. Hannah was continually taunted by Peninnah because she was barren. There was something missing in her life, and she so desired to have a full life with the blessing of a child from the Lord. I cannot help but think of the different attitude of the age in which we live when it comes to children. There are far too many that see children as a burden...and sadly we see precious children discarded, abused, sold into slavery, and even murdered before they take their first breath (mostly for convenience sake). The Bible says that children are a blessing from the Lord. I love to watch families that understand this truth...as they pour love, truth, and time into the lives of their children. For Hannah it was so important for her to be able to have a child...and it broke her heart that she did not. In her story we will learn what we are called to do when we have a need in our lives.
Please share your thoughts from today's readings. I hope you all can see the flow of the wonderful story of God's great plan for us...fulfilled in His Son, Jesus.
TOMORROW’S READING... 1 Samuel 1:9-4:11
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